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For 2015 I am beginning a new project with fellow photographer, Anna Roberts of Third Avenue Photography. Anna and I have never met in person, but I know if we lived near one another we would be great friends. I love her photography and her outlook on life. She is also the mom to three […]

For 2015 I am beginning a new project with fellow photographer, Anna Roberts of Third Avenue Photography. Anna and I have never met in person, but I know if we lived near one another we would be great friends. I love her photography and her outlook on life. She is also the mom to three littles, and spends her days taking care of them. The internet sure has made the world smaller, and I’m thankful God used it to introduce me to people like Anna.

I’m going to use her words to explain our latest project… I was inspired by the 5 minute project (with amazing contributors!) and decided to do our own little version for fun. The first month of the year we document 1 minute of our lives, the second month we document 2 minutes, the third month we document 3 minutes, and so on… These aren’t planned or set up. Just ordinary, regular minutes in our lives. I love this challenge and another way to keep me accountable in documenting our lives.

So, here goes. 1 minute of our lives. We were in Hobby Lobby right before Christmas and I bought a couple of these ironing bead kits to put in the girls’ stockings. I had no idea that they would become one of the their favorite presents. They have spent hours on these things, perfecting their creations and ironing them into place. The day Gretta spent at least an hour making a beautiful butterfly, then dropped it on the way to the iron made both of us cry. Today I made sure we would never forget the year of the ironing bead craft…does anyone know what the real name is?

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As a wedding photographer, who has been married for 11 years, I almost feel like the ghost of marriage future who gets to visit couples on the day they make the same decision I made in July of 2003. The biggest difference between me and Jacob Marley’s scary future ghost is that my glimpse into […]

As a wedding photographer, who has been married for 11 years, I almost feel like the ghost of marriage future who gets to visit couples on the day they make the same decision I made in July of 2003. The biggest difference between me and Jacob Marley’s scary future ghost is that my glimpse into the years to come is full of life and hope not doom and gloom. The truth is, marriage is hard. It just is. I don’t care how it appears or who you talk to, it’s just not easy. It’s a constant give and take…it’s a daily, deliberate sacrifice of yourself for someone else. My own marriage has been a real adventure, complete with lots of ups and lots of downs…some really high, highs, and some really low, lows. If the ghost of marriage future had shown up at my own wedding with the highlight reel of some of those lows, I think I would have been totally hopeless. So, I decided to go into wedding photography to warn everyone about what’s coming, right? Not quite. I love weddings. They are my thing. really. I love wedding cake and bridesmaid dresses and bouquets and dancing. I really do. BUT, while I’m photographing all of those things, they aren’t necessarily what’s on my mind. By the time I shoot your wedding, we’re friends. I genuinely care about my brides and grooms. So, as your friend, I am beyond excited about the adventure you are about to embark on. Your’s will be different than mine, but it will be your story, complete with your own highs and lows. Because I know that God is writing your story, I know that He is orchestrating your ups and downs. I know that in a few years, you will be just as thankful for the downs as you are for the ups, maybe more so. I know that He is good and He knows best and He loves your spouse way more than you do. He truly does know the future of your marriage, because He designed it. He is trustworthy and He is faithful. As your friend and your wedding photographer, I want your photos to reflect the beginning of your adventure in a way that will remind you of the good times during the bad ones. When I’m spending hours going through your photos and staring at you, your friends, and your family, I am hoping and praying that seeing those photos will be a reminder to you of the good work that God began in your relationship and promises to complete in both of you. God has grown me more in the context of my marriage than in any other season of my life. I absolutely love the fact that He has given me the privilege of photographing couples on the day that their own adventures begin.

I don’t even know where to begin with these two. I love Joel (or is it Michael? ) and Ivie. I am SO thankful for the day I received Ivie’s e-mail asking if I could photograph their wedding. I am already experiencing some withdrawals because it is over (is it really over already? ). They are great. Their friends are great. Their families are great. Their wedding was great. I just can’t really explain all of the greatness that is “Joel and Ivie” in words. I hope their wedding photos will speak for me.

***I would like to thank my dear friend, Molly, for shooting this wedding with me. She spent her New Year’s Eve with me instead of her family (and Ryan Seacrest) and for that I am eternally grateful!!!!!!! Thanks for taking pictures, wrangling flower girls, and making me laugh, Molly!!!!!***

“It really is true-a marriage of unity, understanding, and love is not rooted in romance. It is rooted in worship. It is when we love God more than we love ourselves and when we quit building our own little kingdom and start seeking his that we will love our spouse. When we really do love our husband or wife, we will be willing to do the hard work that such love requires. When we do the hard work that love requires, we will be humbled by how weak and needy we are when it comes to love, and we will begin to celebrate the love of God that is with us in our moment of greatest need. When we are daily aware that we are being loved, we will be excited about loving our husband or wife in the same way. And when our spouse is being treated with daily love, respect, and appreciation, he or she will be encouraged to love us in return. Do you want this kind of marriage? If so, worship God above anything else. Do the hard work of love to which he has called you. And trust that he is with you with transforming grace in his hands.”

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The week before this wedding, I watched more weather forecasts than I have in a very long time. One day they were saying Saturday was going to be a wash and the next day they would say that it was only going to drizzle, but not constantly. The day before, they seemed to not have […]

The week before this wedding, I watched more weather forecasts than I have in a very long time. One day they were saying Saturday was going to be a wash and the next day they would say that it was only going to drizzle, but not constantly. The day before, they seemed to not have any idea what was going to happen, which means I planned for the worst and hoped for the best. I know rain on your wedding days means “showers of blessings” (at least that’s how I encourage my brides), but I always feel badly when a bride and groom get a bad forecast. Benjamin and Lauren, however, were not affected in the least bit. It was so refreshing to work with two people who were so genuinely kind and easy going. We did the “first look” in an open field, getting drizzled on the whole time, but no one complained or even batted an eyelash. Benjamin was overwhelmed with emotion when he opened his eyes to see Lauren and I was overwhelmed just watching them.

Matt and I drove away that day, grateful that we had gotten to be a part of Benjamin and Lauren’s wedding. We got to witness their first look and mingle with their family and friends. What a privilege it is to be a wedding photographer and to be a part of the day when two individuals become one! Benjamin and Lauren, thank-you SO VERY much for being so gracious and wonderful. We will never forget the joy it was to work with you!!!!!

Lauren’s sister Rachel chose me for Lauren’s wedding day and I am so thankful she did!!!!! You can check out Rachel’s photography here…she’s super!!!!!!!!!!

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Sunday, December 7, 2014 The story of Creation, Fall, Redemption, and New Creation is one we need to read often. It’s the story of God’s faithfulness and goodness. And because we know the Author of the story personally and we trust his will, we can watch the story of our lives unfold with wonder and […]

The story of Creation, Fall, Redemption, and New Creation is one we need to read often. It’s the story of God’s faithfulness and goodness. And because we know the Author of the story personally and we trust his will, we can watch the story of our lives unfold with wonder and awe. Even when we get to a scene that is confusing or seems out of place, we can remember, wait, and watch, knowing that the storyline is moving forward to a beautiful and glorious end. Jesus made it so when he signed the manuscript with his own blood and said, “It is finished!” -Christina Fox

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Corey and Mackenzie met in downtown Spartanburg and then years later, were engaged in the very same place. Obviously, we had to do their engagement pictures there, too! We didn’t have a plan at all. We just walked around, getting to know one another and stopping every few steps to snap a picture. There was […]

Corey and Mackenzie met in downtown Spartanburg and then years later, were engaged in the very same place. Obviously, we had to do their engagement pictures there, too! We didn’t have a plan at all. We just walked around, getting to know one another and stopping every few steps to snap a picture. There was something very quaint and magical about the whole thing.

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If Marlee and Gretta turn out half as kind, gracious, responsible, loving, servant-hearted, and selfless as English, then I will be one happy mom! She should really teach lessons on how to be a student, big sister, daughter, baby-sitter, and friend! God’s work in her life is evident every minute of every day. I rarely […]

If Marlee and Gretta turn out half as kind, gracious, responsible, loving, servant-hearted, and selfless as English, then I will be one happy mom! She should really teach lessons on how to be a student, big sister, daughter, baby-sitter, and friend! God’s work in her life is evident every minute of every day. I rarely see her not serving others and I also rarely see her without a smile on her face! I love this girl and am so thankful for the example she is to my daughters and to me!

English, we can’t wait to see where God leads you over the next few years. I know exciting times are ahead! So thankful for YOU!!!!!!!!

“But you will imagine that it is best that He should at once enable you to see clearly. If it is, you may be sure He will do it. He never makes mistakes. But He often deals far differently with His disciples. He lets them grope their way in the dark until they fully learn how blind they are, how helpless, how absolutely in need of Him. What His methods will be with you I cannot foretell. But you may be sure that He never works in an arbitrary way. He has a reason for everything He does. You may not understand why He leads you now in this way and now in that, but you may, nay, you must believe that perfection is stamped on His every act.” ~Elizabeth Prentiss

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This wedding was so much fun for me! Jesse and Jonathan were so great and easy to work with. Their venue, Morees Recreational Retreat in Latta, SC, was awesome and even had a huge selection of very large, stuffed animals. I’m talking about lions, tigers, an elephant, and even a giraffe…seriously. It was SO cool! […]

This wedding was so much fun for me! Jesse and Jonathan were so great and easy to work with. Their venue, Morees Recreational Retreat in Latta, SC, was awesome and even had a huge selection of very large, stuffed animals. I’m talking about lions, tigers, an elephant, and even a giraffe…seriously. It was SO cool! The other really neat thing about Morees is that it had lots of cabins where family and friends can stay, making your wedding a weekend event rather than just a few hours on a Saturday. I LOVE that a lot of brides are choosing locations where guests can stay for the weekend. Imagine having all of your wedding guests as weekend guests, so you get to enjoy meals together, explore local highlights, and stay up late talking and laughing. I love this!!!!!!!! I would have totally done something like this if it had been on my radar 11 years ago!

Jonathan and Jesse, thank-you so much for making me a part of your day. I cannot begin to tell you how much I enjoyed myself! Enjoy your sneak peek!

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Cameron and Jackie got married on a Saturday morning, with a lake in front of them and their family and friends behind them. Breakfast was served, laughs were plenty, and the sun shined down on it all. I am truly grateful for the blessing it is that I get to be a part of days […]

Cameron and Jackie got married on a Saturday morning, with a lake in front of them and their family and friends behind them. Breakfast was served, laughs were plenty, and the sun shined down on it all. I am truly grateful for the blessing it is that I get to be a part of days like these. Cameron and Jackie, thank-you so much for trusting me to tell your wedding story with my camera. Enjoy your sneak peek!